www.dollymania.net                News                          January 2025

Jan. 20:
'Smoky Mountain DNA' Special Teaser Released


Thanks to Benjamin for alerting me to a teaser video now available on Venmo here or in the media player above for the multi-part docuseries on her album Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables. The docu-series was originally expected to premiere at the album's release in November, but the project's website has said it should come out sometime this year. (The video was moved behind a password-protected wall, but several copies have been posted to YouTube including one here.)

Dolly Gains Another U.K. Silver Record
Fourteen years after its release, Dolly's 2011 album Better Day, was certified silver by BPI in the UK last week for sales in excess of 60,000 copies since release. Dolly's management seems to have mistakenly claimed it went silver in July 2014 alongside Blue Smoke but it apparently wasn't at that sales level at the time.

Dolly Makes 10 Most Influential Artists
The Luminate Index, a new music artist ranking system from the publishers of Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, has released in inaugural list of the world's most influential artists in the United States to help businesses make product partnership decisions, and Dolly is the only country artist to make the top 10. The rankings are based on 30 percent streaming (where Dolly usually ranks very low), 15 percent social media presence, 25 percent public awareness, 15 percent public perception, and 15 percent fan engagement. The top 10 for 2024 were:

  • 10. Dolly
  • 9. Lady Gaga
  • 8. Ariana Grande
  • 7. Shakira
  • 6. Eminem
  • 5. Rihanna
  • 4. Elton John
  • 3. Beyonce
  • 2. Adele
  • 1. Taylor Swift

    New Product News
    Such popularity has led to numerous recent business opportunities including a new home goods line from Lifetime Brands called "Dolly's Jeweled Mosaic Collection" coming to stores in spring 2025 but seen at home expos such as here,  naming of Shannon Foster as general manager of her upcoming Songteller Hotel in Nashville which aims for a 2026 opening with a Dolly museum, restaurant, and entertainment venue here, and an interview with digital magazine Food & Beverage about her new wine collection here.

    'Whorehouse' To Be Re-Issued On BluRay
    Kino Lorber Studio Classics has announced it will soon release a new BluRay of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas featuring Dolly from 1982. No details yet on bonus material or release date but the studios say it was made from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, which suggests a 4K release could be in the future.

    Dolly Suit At Grammy Auction
    Dolly has donated one of the outfits she wore to her 2019 MusiCares Artist Of The Year ceremony to this year's MusiCares auction, which has announced this year's proceeds will go to musicians who lost their homes in the recent California wildfires. Originally estimated to go for $3,000, Dolly's item is currently at $6,000 in online bidding. The final auction occurs the morning of the Grammy Awards, Feb. 2. Bid here.

    More Grammy Records Noted
    Billboard last week noted Dolly is the No. 1 female and No. 1 vocalist for the most years to have received at least one nomination with 37. Only composer John Williams surpasses her with 42. Read the full list here.

    Trans-Lesbian 'Jolene' Cover Released
    Tears for the Dying, a goth-punk group fronted by the trans-feme niece of Chip Young, the session guitarist Dolly taught her signature "Joelene" guitar riff to perform on the original recording of the song, last week released their cover of "Jolene," singing it from a gender-queer trans lesbian perspective. Read an interview about the project here and watch the video here.

    U.S., U.K., Aussie Chart Updates
    It appears Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables lasted only seven weeks on the bluegrass albums chart, falling out of the top 15 in the Jan. 18 numbers released Tuesday, down from No. 5 in its final week.

  • Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon's holiday album Holiday Seasoning, featuring his Dolly duet "It's Almost Too Early For Christmas," slips two to No. 4 comedy albums.
  • Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, slides one to No. 15 Top 200 albums and one to No. 3 country albums, falling four to No. 48 current albums and rising one to No. 11 Canadian albums.
  • Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, with a "Jolene" cover and Dolly voice-overs, falls 70 to No. 107 Top 200 albums, nine to No. 18 country albums, four to No. 10 Americana/folk albums, and three to No. 29 current albums sales, falling back off top album sales, down from No. 39.
  • Down Under, Post Malone's F 1 Trillion loses one to No. 4 country, while Cowboy Carter falls 11 to No. 29 Australian country albums. Malone's gains 16 to No. 19 Australian pop albums.
  • Across the pond, Beyonce's album loses one to No. 3 U.K. country albums and three No. 4 Americana albums. Malone's album dips one to No. 4 country and seven to No. 97 streaming charts, falling off the pop chart at No. 93 at No,. 90. The U.K. country compilations tally sees Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 stay at No. 3 and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection remain at No. 4, Glen Campbell Duets: Ghost On The Canvas Sessions, with a Dolly duet, rise nine to No. 10, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt gains two to No. 14 and Emmylou Harris' first entry loses five to No. 18.

    Jan. 13:
    Dolly To Perform On Wiggles' Country Album
    Australian children's entertainers The Wiggles last week announced their upcoming country album, Wiggle Up, Giddy Up, hitting stores March 7 with some Dolly collaborations. According to the track list, Dolly performs on the songs "Friends!" and "We Will Always Be Friends." In addition, the group covers "Love Is Like A Butterfly." Other guests on the project include Lainey Wilson on "Let's Ride!" and Orville Peck on "Friends Of Dorothy." Reserve your copy here!

    'Southern Living' Cover Girl
    Dolly graces the cover of the new issue of Southern Living magazines scheduled to hit newsstands the Friday of this week in honor of the 40th anniversary of her theme park. Among the items are a new photo shoot, an interview with humorist Rick Bragg here, a piece on Dollywood's history here, and an article on park food here. The cover story got the notice last week of NBC's Today, which reported on it here.

    'Good Lookin' Cookin'' Remains On 'PW' Best Sellers
    Good Lookin' Cookin' by Dolly, Rachel Parton George, and Maurice Miner earns a 16th week in the Publishers Weekly top 25 Best Selling Nonfiction Hardcover titles for the week, falling six to No. 22 and moving 4,220 copies for a cumulative total of 220,221 since release. The book fell off the New York Times Best Seller List last week after 14 consecutive weeks on the Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous tally.

    U.S., Aussie, U.K. Chart Updates
    The seasonal return of Kenny Rogers and Dolly's Once Upon A Christmas was only one week this year, as the 1984 collection falls off the Top Country Albums charts after one week this season at No. 45 and one week on the Canadian top 100 albums at No. 55. Elsewhere on the charts:

  • Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables holds steady at No. 5 bluegrass albums.
  • Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon's holiday album Holiday Seasoning, featuring his Dolly duet "It's Almost Too Early For Christmas," slips one to No. 2 comedy albums, gaining two to No. 30 holiday albums in its ninth chart week.
  • Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, gains 32 to No. 14 Top 200 albums, 21 to No. 12 Canadian albums, and seven to No. 2 country albums, falling four to No. 48 current album.
  • Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, with a "Jolene" cover and Dolly voice-overs, continues its post-Christmas Day NFL halftime show rebound gaining 102 spots on the top 200 albums at No. 37, 12 to No. 9 country albums, four to No. 6 Americana/folk albums, and six to No. 26 current albums sales, re-entering top album sales at No. 39.
  • Down Under, Post Malone's F 1 Trillion holds steady at No. 3 country, while Cowboy Carter slides one to No. 18 Australian country albums. Malone's inches up one to No. 35 Australian pop albums.
  • Across the pond, Beyonce's album falls back out of the pop top 100, down from No. 100, and top downloads, down from No. 85, while holding steady at No. 2 U.K. country albums and No. 1 Americana albums. Malone's album holds steady at No. 3 country and re-enters the pop chart at No. 93 and streaming chart at No,. 90. The U.K. country compilations tally sees Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 slide one to No. 3 and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection lose one to No. 4, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe fall back out of the top 20, down from No. 19, while Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt rises four to No. 16 and Emmylou Harris' first entry gains seven to No. 13, both of which contain Dolly guest appearances, and Glen Campbell Duets: Ghost On The Canvas Sessions, with a Dolly duet, re-enters the top 20 at No. 19.

    Jan. 6:
    Dolly Collection Featured At Sevierville Birthday Party
    The newly renovated historic Pines Downtown in Sevierville (230 Court Avenue), where Dolly had her first paying gig and often performed with The Cas Walker Show as a child, will celebrate her 79th birthday this month with a huge party from 4 p.m. until midnight on Saturday, Jan. 18, the day before her big day. "Roots to Rhinestones: A Dolly Birthday Bash!" will feature a one-day exhibit from The Dolly Collection, Patric Parkey and Harrel Gabehart's pieces that comprise the largest privately-held collection of Dolly memorabilia. Wigs, costumes, and more will be on display. Specialty cocktails and mocktails inspired by her songs and life will be offered and her hits will play all night long. Special cupcakes will be available first come, first served. Guests are encouraged to don their most sparkly Dolly-inspired attire for "a night of glitter, glamour, and everything Dolly!" Learn more on their website here and social media here.

    'Cookin'' Falls Off 'NYT' List, Remains On 'PW'
    After 14 consecutive weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List, Good Lookin' Cookin' by Dolly, Rachel Parton George, and Maurice Miner falls out of the top 10 for the first time this week, down from No. 7 on the Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous tally. On Publisher's Weekly, however, which classifies it under Nonfiction Hardcover Best Sellers, the title falls eight to No. 16, selling 9,033 copies last week for a 15-weekcumulative total since release of 217,248 copies sold.

    'Mountain Magic' Reairing Attracts 1.6 Million
    NBC's third annual airing of the Emmy-nominated Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas garnered 1.64 million viewers on Boxing Day to come in third in its time slot behind Ghost and Matlock on CBS (2.05 million) and ABC's The Year: 2024 (2.17 million).

    'Once Upon' Returns To Charts
    Once Upon A Christmas makes its seasonal chart return this week in the Billboard tallies released Tuesday and dated Jan. 4. The 1984 holiday collection with Kenny Rogers re-enters the Top Country Albums chart at No. 45 and Canadian Top 100 Albums at No. 55. Elsewhere on the charts:

  • Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables holds steady at No. 5 bluegrass albums.
  • Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon's holiday album Holiday Seasoning, featuring his Dolly duet "It's Almost Too Early For Christmas," remains steady at No. 1 comedy albums, gaining four to No. 32 holiday albums in its eighth chart week and falling off current album sales, down from No. 32.
  • Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, loses five to No. 46 Top 200 albums, 14 to No. 33 Canadian albums, and one to No. 9 country albums, gaining four to No. 44 current album sales and falling off streaming, down from No. 37.
  • Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, with a "Jolene" cover and Dolly voice-overs, re-enters the top 200 albums at No. 139 thanks to her Christmas halftime show, rising 12 to No. 21 country albums, two to No. 10 Americana/folk albums, and 12 to No. 32 current albums sales.
  • Down Under, Post Malone's F 1 Trillion holds steady at No. 3 country, while Cowboy Carter gains three to No. 17 Australian country albums. Malone's inches down one to No. 36 Australian pop albums.
  • Across the pond, A Holly, Dolly Christmas falls back off the top Scottish albums, down from No. 81. Malone's album slips one to No. 3 country. Beyonce's album re-enters the pop top 100 at No. 100 and top downloads at No. 85 while gaining three to No. 2 U.K. country albums and four to No. 1 Americana albums. The U.K. country compilations tally sees Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 remain steady at No. 2 and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection stay at No. 3, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe decline five to No. 19 and Original Album Series re-enter the top 20 with Linda Ronstadt's entry at No. 16 and Emmylou Harris' first entry at No. 20, both of which contain Dolly guest appearances.